Multi-view Form Design for Platform-Specific Rendering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for developing business applications that run on multiple platforms often require duplicating efforts and struggle to maintain a consistent look and feel across different devices, as they are limited by the 'least common denominator' of device capabilities, making it impractical to achieve platform-specific designs efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for designing platform-specific forms by scanning device characteristics with an interrogator to execute instructions that tailor the form's appearance and functionality to each platform, allowing for customized designs without breaking the parent-child relationship between base and custom forms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a scripting language like HTML is used to provide a one-size-fits-all solution, then the application can run on all platforms, but the look and feel becomes limited and cannot maintain proprietary appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the form design into multiple view definitions, each tailored to specific device types (e.g., handheld devices, desktop devices). The system divides the single form into device-specific views that can be selectively rendered based on the target device, allowing proprietary look and feel for each platform while maintaining a unified form structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic form rendering where the system automatically selects and renders the appropriate view definition based on the target device type. This dynamic adaptation allows the same form to present different appearances and layouts optimized for each device category, resolving the contradiction between universal compatibility and platform-specific design quality
2Productivity
If a multi-platform tool is used to develop an application, then development effort is reduced without duplication, but the design is limited to the least common denominator of device capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments form parameters into device-category-specific definitions rather than using a single unified definition. This allows the development tool to work with targeted device categories (handheld, desktop, etc.) independently, maximizing the use of each device type's capabilities without being constrained by the least capable device
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional form definition system where a single form can define multiple views for different device types. This universal approach allows one form definition to serve multiple device categories with optimized parameters for each, maintaining productivity while avoiding the least common denominator limitation
3Reliability
If the same application is written multiple times using platform-specific tools, then platform-optimized performance is achieved, but development time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the advantages of platform-specific development into a unified form definition system. By combining multiple device-specific view definitions into a single form, the system achieves platform-optimized performance for each device type while eliminating the need to separately develop and maintain multiple independent applications
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal form definition that functions across multiple platforms by defining device-category-specific views within a single form structure. This multi-functional approach allows one form definition to produce platform-optimized applications for handheld devices, desktop devices, and other categories without requiring separate development efforts for each platform
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, computer systems and computer readable media for receiving designing and displaying device and platform-specific forms are provided. In embodiments, base forms are utilized and modified to create custom forms that are platform and device specific, without breaking the parent-child relationship between the base form and the custom form for any non-modified characteristics of the base form. Custom forms enhance the performance and appearance. In embodiments, interrogators are executed at runtime to specify a set of instructions that will be executed, further enhancing the performance and appearance associated with the form and the particular device displaying the form. In various embodiments of the present invention, user interfaces provide the designer visual representations of the forms as they appear on selected platforms and/or devices.